Pothead device



Jan. 9, 1934. c. w. SWARD 1,943,247

POTHEAD DEVICE Filed Aug. 15, 1929 GU77 venfofl' Cecil Zz/ 611/0727.

Patented Jan. 9, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE- POTHEAD DEVICE tion of Illinois Application August 13, 1929. Serial No. 385,643

4 Claims.

This invention relates to electrical conductors in general, and more particularly to pothead devices such as are used for connecting electrical cables with overhead conductors.

Pothead devices usually include a tubular insulation member for receiving an electrical cable and supported in vertical position whereby its upper or outlet end may be contacted by an overhead conductor. It has been found desirable to fill the tubular member of the pothead with oil or other compound for the purpose of maintaining the insulation wrapping of the cable in the desired condition. This oil or other compound is adapted to pass out of the pothead and surround the wrapping of the cable inside of the sheath thereof whereby it is frequently necessary from time to time to replenish this compound. In order that this compound may be replenished when needed, it is desirable to know the amount that is present in the pothead at all times.

The primary object of this invention is accordingly to provide in a pothead device; means for ascertaining the quantity of compound therein.

Another object of this invention is to provide such a means without necessitating the use of cocks or plugs to determine the quantity of compound in the pothead.

Other and further objects of this invention will be apparent as the same become better understood from an examination of the specification and claims in connection with the accompanying drawing, wherein Fig. l is a fragmentary elevation partly in section of a pothead embodying this invention; and

Fig. 2 is a section taken at the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawing more particularly, reference character 3 designates a tubular insulator member provided with an opening 4 at its upper end and closed at its lower end by a suitable closure or housing 5. This closure 5 so far as this invention is concerned may be of standard form permitting the entrance of a cable 6 into the lower end of the member 3 and providing for the support of said cable in said member 3, whereby oil or other compounds therein may enter the cable sheath and surround the wrapping of the cable to keep such wrapping in efficient condition. Although the housing 5 providing for the support of the cable in the inlet of the pothead and providing also for the entrance of the compound (oil) into the cable sheath around the insulation may be ofstandardform, it is preferably as illustrated and described in the copending application of George P. Edmonds for Pothead devices filed August 13, 1929 and bearing serial No. 385,642.

The upper end of the cable 6 is in the form of a male plug '7 which fits in a suitable socket in the lower end of the terminal member 8. This 0 terminal member acts to electrically connect the end of the cable to a combined cover and contact 9, said terminal member being provided with a threaded extension 11 which extends through the opening 4 and is threaded to said cover.

Between the cover 9 and the upper end of the member 3 there is disposed a transparent cylindrical member 12 of glass, a gasket 13 being disposed between the lower end of said member 11 and said upper end of the member 3, and a gasket 14 being disposed between the upper end of said member 12 and said cover 9.

The cover 9 thus engages the upper end of the cylindrical transparent member 12 through the intermediary of the gasket 14 and may be turned to draw the member 8 upwardly causing an annular shoulder 15 thereon to press against spaced shoulders 16 on inwardly extending integral portions 17 on the inner periphery of the member 3 whereby said transparent member 12 may 0 be clamped on the upper end of said member 3 and the gaskets 13 and 14 compressed topre'vent leakage of the oil or other compound in the pothead through the top thereof.

The member 8 is provided with spacing webs 35 18 for centering the same in the opening 4 and is further provided with webs 19 for cooperating with the extensions 17 for preventing rotation of said member 8.

A plug 21 permits access to the housing 5 for filling the pothead with oil or other compound to be used for keeping the insulation wrapping on the cable in the desired condition.

The housing 5 is attached through the intermediary of bolts 22 to ring 23 cemented to the lower end of the member 3. A bracket 24 is bolted to the lower end of the housing 5 and this bracket is provided with a suitable clamp (not shown) for supporting the pothead.

It will be apparent that whenever the com pound in the pothead drops below the transparent closure 12 the necessity for replenishing such compound will be indicated at once, whereupon the compound may be replenished through the plug 21.

Other advantages of the aforedescribed construction will be apparent without further description.

I am aware that many changes may be made without departing from the principles of this 1 0 invention and I, therefore, do not wish to be limited to the details shown or described.

What I claim is:

1. In a pothead, a cable, a tubular insulator member adapted to enclose the end of said cable, a removable cylindrical transparent extension on said tubular member in alignment therewith, a cap on said extension and means for clamping said extension between said cap and the end of the insulator member, said means comprising a metallic member electrically connected with the end of the cable and in threaded engagement with said cap, the metallic member and the tubular member having vertical tapered co-operating shoulders whereby said member is axially positioned with respect to said insulator member and said transparent extension thereon and whereby rotation thereof is avoided.

2. A device of the class specified having a tubular insulator adapted to receive a cable at its lower end and open at its upper end, a tubular transparent member mounted at the upper end of the insulator and arranged so that said transparent member forms substantially a continuation of the upper end of the tubular insulator, a cap mounted upon the upper end of said transparent member and a metallic connecting member arranged within the upper end of the tubular insulator and in the tubular transparent member and having its lower end adapted for connection with the upper end of the cable and having its upper end threaded to fit into a threaded socket of said cap, said metallic connecting member having upwardly tapered spacing webs for centering the same axially within said tubular insulator and said transparent member, and said tubular insulator having similar webs thereon which co-operate with said spacing webs to prevent rotation of said metallic member.

3. A device of the class specified having a tubular insulator adapted to receive a cable at its lower end and open at its upper end, a tubular transparent member mounted at the upper end of the insulator and arranged so that said transparent member forms substantially a continuation of the upper end of the tubular insulator, a

sealing washer interposed therebetween, a cap mounted upon the upper end of said transparent member and a metallic connecting member arranged within the upper end of the tubular insulator and in the tubular transparent member and having its lower end adapted for connection with the upper end of the cable and having its upper end threaded to fit into a threaded socket of said cap, said metallic member being only slightly smaller than the interior of the tubular transparent member and the upper end of the tubular insulator member and being provided with projections adapted to make contact with said washer interposed between the tubular insulator and the transparent member to hold said metallic member in proper position.

4. A device of the class specified having a tubular insulator adapted to receive a cable at its lower end and open at its upper end, a tubular transparent member mounted at the upper end of the insulator and arranged so that said transparent member forms substantially a continuation of the upper end of the tubular insulator, sealing gaskets positioned at the upper and lower ends of said transparent member, a cap mounted upon the upper end of said transparent member and a metallic connecting member arranged within the upper end of the tubular insulator and in the tubular transparent member and having its lower end adapted for connection with the upper end of the cable and having its upper end threaded to fit into a threaded socket of said cap, said metallic member being only sli htly smaller than the interior of the tubular transparent member and the upper end of the tubular insulator member and being provided with projections adapted to make contact with the gasket positioned at the lower end of said transparent member to hold said metallic member in proper position, and said tubular insulating member being provided with inwardly extending projections and said metallic member being provided with lateral shoulders adapted to engage said projections to hold said metallic member against longitudinal movement to permit the parts to be clamped firmly together by said threaded cap.

CECIL W. SWARD. 

